1955 Tasmanian state election

The 1955 Tasmanian state election was held on 19 February 1955 in the Australian state of Tasmania to elect 30 members of the Tasmanian House of Assembly. The election used the Hare-Clark proportional representation system[1] — six members were elected from each of five electorates.

1955 Tasmanian state election

← 1950 19 February 1955 1956 →

All 30 seats to the House of Assembly
  First party Second party
 
Leader Robert Cosgrove Rex Townley
Party Labor Liberal
Leader since 25 February 1948 6 February 1950
Leader's seat Denison Denison
Last election 15 seats 14 seats
Seats won 15 seats 15 seats
Seat change Steady0 Increase1
Percentage 52.63% 45.35%
Swing Increase4.00 Decrease2.23

Results of the election

Premier before election

Robert Cosgrove
Labor

Resulting Premier

Robert Cosgrove
Labor

The incumbent Labor government, led by Robert Cosgrove, had been in office continuously since 1934, although had not held a majority since 1946. It was looking to win another term in minority government against the opposition Liberal Party, on this occasion led by Rex Townley.

The election resulted in a parliamentary deadlock, with both the Labor and Liberal parties winning 15 seats in the 30 seat assembly.

The 1955 election also saw the first women elected to the House of Assembly: Mabel Miller for Franklin and Amelia Best for Wilmot, both members of the Liberal Party.[2]

Results

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PartyVotes%+/–Seats+/–
Labor82,36252.63  4.0015 
Liberal70,95945.35  2.2315  1
Independents3,1582.02  1.720  1
Total156,479100.0030
Valid votes156,47996.21
Invalid/blank votes6,1583.79  0.69
Total votes162,637100.00
Registered voters/turnout173,16593.92  0.60
Popular vote
Labor
52.63%
Liberal
45.35%
Independents
2.02%
Seats
Labor
50.00%
Liberal
50.00%

Distribution of votes

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Primary vote by division

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Bass Braddon Denison Franklin Wilmot
Labor Party 53.5% 53.3% 50.8% 49.9% 55.7%
Liberal Party 46.0% 46.7% 42.5% 46.5% 44.3%
Other 0.5% 6.7% 3.5%

Distribution of seats

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See also

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References

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